Car Accident Attorneys

Birmingham Car Accident Attorneys

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident in Birmingham, it can be a troubling, difficult time. We want you to know we understand, our Birmingham car accident attorneys have helped thousands of accident victims. A crash can be traumatic emotionally and physically, and it is important that the victim of an accident takes time to heal.

We know what accidents are like and the people you speak with at our firm truly understand. This webpage has more information about what to do after an accident, including tips about speaking with insurance companies. We have also included FAQs to help answer questions we find many individuals have, perhaps just like yourself.

The car accident you or someone you love has been involved in is unique, and the healing process will also be unique. Practical methods for recovering often involve a lawyer who can remove the burden of police reports, insurance paperwork, and phone calls requesting recorded statements.

Those recovering from a serious car accident face numerous burdens. The challenges are physical, emotional and financial. As you recover, the thought of hiring an auto accident attorney may not even cross your mind.
That’s OK, and it’s often the common behavior. But if you have been in an accident and are reading this page, you have found of one the most experienced law firm’s in Birmingham who has represented thousands in severe auto accidents involving, cars, commercial trucks (including 18 wheelers), and trains.

Most Popular Question: How much does it cost to hire car accident attorneys?

The attorneys at Pittman Dutton Hellums handle cases on a contingency-fee basis. You only pay once we get you compensated. There are no upfront costs, hourly billing, court fees or litigation costs.

Our fee is contingent on a favorable outcome and you being compensated. To put it simply, you pay nothing until we win your car accident case.

Will I Get a Settlement?

Great question, and yes, you may get a settlement. However, this is not the situation in all cases. In order to help determine what you may be able to recover, you can have a free consultation. Consultations are also confidential and you have no obligation to continue. Consulting with a lawyer will help you to understand your rights and how to protect them when dealing with the aftermath of a car crash.

It is important that you understand an attorney may be able to get you what is needed to ensure the best recovery. Pittman Dutton & Hellums has secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts or settlements on behalf of Birmingham car accident victims to help them get their lives back on track after they were harmed through no fault of their own.

We have the experience necessary investigate your accident and make a strong case for compensation or an auto accident settlement.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an auto accident, we know you are facing a difficult ordeal. Give us a call today at (866) 722-0250 and allow one of our Birmingham car accident attorneys tell you how we may be able to help get you and your family back on track.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

Contact authorities. Of course, call 911 if anyone is in need of medical attention. Get police on the scene of a serious accident. Report an accident to the police when property damages total more than $250, there is injury or there is death.

Gather what you can. If able, document as much as possible at the scene. Take photos of any injuries or vehicle damage. This evidence may be very useful if you file a claim for compensation. While we will thoroughly investigate your accident if we represent you, it’s never possible to fully re-create the scene of a crash after the fact.

Report the crash to your insurance company. Only give them the basics of the accident. Do not give any insurance company a statement without speaking to your car accident attorneys first.

Collect info from the other driver(s). This includes name, address, insurer, policy number, vehicle make, and model.

Do not admit fault to anyone and don’t sign anything. Don’t discuss the accident with anyone but your doctor and your lawyer.

If you’ve been injured, call Pittman Dutton & Hellums. Don’t delay. The sooner we begin working on your case, the better. Under Alabama law, you have two years to bring a claim after an injury or death in an auto accident. This is called the statute of limitations.

Auto Accident FAQs

The first thing you should do after being involved in a Birmingham car accident is checking to see if there are injuries as a result of the accident. Even if people may appear to have less-than-minor injuries, the safest thing you can do is call 911 and requests an ambulance immediately. Injuries such as an impact to the head may not surface immediately and have a professional medical team on site to evaluate all involved in the accident is best. contact your insurance company. You may be entitled to certain no-fault medical coverage and they can likely assist you in getting your car repaired or replaced.

At the scene of a crash, if the police arrive requesting a statement it is encouraged to cooperate to aid law enforcement in performing their duties. Answer questions to the best of your abilities, however, make sure that you and your passengers are receiving immediate medical care.

The other parties insurance company is not working for you! They are diligently trying to reduce their exposure, especially if their driver is determined to be partially or wholly at fault. The adjuster’s job is to save money for their insurance company. By speaking to our car accident attorneys, we can aid in speaking with the other parties insurance on your behalf. Your goal is to focus on recovery while we move your auto accident claim forward.

While an insured should be able to trust his own insurance company, there are some situations where your own insurance company’s position might be considered adverse to your position. For instance, most people have Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage. This type of coverage allows you to recover from your own insurance company if the at-fault driver is either uninsured or underinsured – that is, where your damages exceed the at-fault’s available coverage limits. There are Birmingham auto accident cases which indicate that, in such a situation, the insurance company’s position is adverse to yours and they may not owe you the same level of good faith and fair dealing that you might expect. Consequently, it would be advisable to consider contacting an attorney to advise you of your rights and responsibilities.

Under Alabama law, if you are injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to recover compensatory damages for the following:

Reasonable Medical Treatment

Past and/or Future Lost Wages

Permanent Injuries

Disfigurement

Loss of Consortium

Physical Pain and Suffering

Past and Future Emotional Distress

In addition, if there is evidence that the driver’s conduct was deliberate or wanton, the jury may be entitled to award punitive damages to punish the driver and prevent future harm. This may occur where the driver is reckless or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Who you can recover damages from depends on the facts of each case. Typically, you will be able to recover monetary damages from the at-fault driver.

If the driver is on an errand for his employer or is driving a commercial delivery truck, the employer may also be liable to you.

Under some circumstances, the owner of the vehicle may be liable for negligent entrustment.

If the at-fault driver was served alcohol by an establishment in violation of Alabama law, the bar or dram shop might be liable to you.

Why File An Auto Accident Lawsuit?

Insurance companies will want to handle your accident claim as quickly and as cheaply as possible. They understand you are upset, and while may not admit their driver to being at-fault, the more quickly they can dismiss the potential of an auto accident lawyer, the better.

They may offer you a settlement early on that may sound enticing, however, it is likely not to cover the near the total compensation to which you may be entitled under Alabama law.

Be Aware: Accepting a potentially “low-ball” offer will likely forfeit your right to seek further compensation.

Insurance companies are not on your side. They are huge companies that often make huge profits. They will try to boost their bottom line by shortchanging you.

The Birmingham car accident attorneys with Pittman, Dutton & Hellums are experienced in the ways of auto insurance companies and their tactics to avoid paying what you deserve. We care about your health and well-being. We’ll deal with insurance companies on your behalf, and we’ll stand up to them to protect your rights and seek compensation that can truly better your situation.

The job of an attorney is to be your legal voice and work to build the strongest case possible. Your attorney’s actions are driven by your best interests at all times. Call us today at (866) 722-0250 or fill out the contact form on this page.

What Kind of Compensation May Be Available?

If you were injured in an auto accident, a Birmingham car accident attorney at Pittman Dutton & Hellums may be able to get you compensated for:

Under Alabama law, you may also be entitled to punitive damages, as well. Pittman Dutton & Hellums has successful secured these damages in car accident claims.

If you lost a loved one in an auto accident, there is no cap on the punitive damages available.

Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Birmingham

There are many factors that can cause a crash, but the majority of accidents are the result of driver error or negligence. Examples of this include:

Distracted driving. According to It’s never safe, but also not uncommon to see drivers texting on their phones, applying make-up or reaching into the backseat while behind the wheel.

Speeding. The Department of Transportation determined long ago that vehicles traveling at above-average speeds are more likely to be involved in an accident. Vehicles traveling less than the average speed are also more likely to be in a crash.

Following too closely. It’s simple: less distance means less time to stop. This is the cause of many rear-end accidents.

Disregarding traffic signals. This can include ignoring stop signs, not stopping at red lights, failing to yield and any other failure to abide by traffic laws. For our safety, we count on other drivers on the road to follow the same rules we do. When they don’t our lives may be put at risk.

Intoxicated driving. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is irresponsible and dangerous. The likelihood of a crash increases exponentially as a driver’s blood-alcohol level rises. Alcohol is involved in 40% of all traffic deaths. That’s why it’s a crime. Pittman Dutton Hellums has zero tolerance for this reckless behavior.

Bad weather can enhance the dangers of all of these examples.

Another potential cause of an accident is a mechanical defect. In these cases, it’s possible to file a claim against the company responsible for the defective product. This is known as products liability and one of our Birmingham car accident attorneys would be happy to let you know your legal options.

Alabama Car Insurance Rules and Regulations

Alabama law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance on any registered vehicle. This is to ensure that, for every vehicle on the road, there’s a policy behind it.

But that is not always as helpful as it seems. Liability insurance can compensate the other driver. It won’t cover your injuries or damage to your vehicle. Additional policies, such as collision, comprehensive and/or medical insurance are available to cover those costs. There are not required by law; however, if you take out a loan on a vehicle, the lender may require you to carry additional insurance.

Also not required is uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage will protect you in the event the driver who caused the accident is illegally driving without insurance. It can also help if the driver’s policies are insufficient to cover the damages.

There are many kinds of insurance, and insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with. After a serious accident, that stress is the last thing you need. That is why you should contact Pittman Dutton & Hellums. If we represent you, we assume that responsibility. We will always assert your rights and take your side. Call us today at (866) 722-0250.

What’s Contributory Negligence?

Contributory negligence is a statute in Alabama that can frustrate many car accident victims. It means that if it is determined the at-fault driver was only 90% responsible for the accident and you were somehow responsible for the other 10%, the amount of compensation you receive would be less.

In essence, this can allow the driver who is at-fault to point the finger at you. It is yet another reason why it’s important to have an attorney representing you throughout this process. Our attorneys are very familiar with the laws surrounding traffic accident liability in Alabama. We will always do our best to maximize the compensation our clients receive.

Contact a Birmingham Car Accident Attorney

There’s nothing we — or anyone — can do to take back the terrible accident that has changed your life. But, while you can’t change the past, you can work towards the brightest future possible. We want to help you do that. It’s the most rewarding part of our jobs.

If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash in Birmingham or one of the many other Alabama cities we serve, give us a call when you’re ready. There is no obligation whatsoever when you speak with us. We’ll listen to your story and let you know your legal options going forward. After that, the choice is yours.